Magda Foy (July 13, 1905 – February 2, 2000), also known and often credited as "The Solax Kid", was a child actor in the

silent film A silent film is a film without synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...

era who worked for Solax Studio, the largest pre-Hollywood studio in the United States from 1910 to 1913.

Biographical information

Magda Foy was born on July 13, 1905, in Manhattan, New York to Mary and Patrick Foy as Magdelena Patricia Foy. She died on February 2, 2000, in Port Jefferson, New York.

Career

Foy, along with her parents, was a member of the Solax stock company and she appeared in 23 of the studio's films. She often was directed by

Alice Guy-Blaché Alice Ida Antoinette Guy-Blaché ( Guy; ; 1 July 1873 – 24 March 1968) was a French pioneer film director. She was one of the first filmmakers to make a Narrative film, narrative fiction film, as well as the first woman to direct a film. From ...

, the founder of Solax and its artistic director. Foy played the lead in ''A Child's Sacrifice'' (1910), the first film produced by Solax. She was cast in leading and minor roles, and portrayed both girls and boys. Her last film, ''Man's Woman'' (1917), made independent of Solax Studios, was directed by

Travers Vale Travers Edmund Vale, born Solomon Flohm, was an English-born silent film film director, director. Raised primarily in Victoria (state), Victoria, Australia, he worked as a photographer, playwright and theatre manager there and in New Zealand pri ...

. One of Foy's better known roles was that of Little Trixie Thompson, the lead character in ''Falling Leaves''. The film cast Magda as a young girl who, overhearing the doctor say that her elder sister will die of

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...

before the last leaf falls, determines to save her by tying the leaves onto the trees outside their home.

Filmography

*''A Child's Sacrifice'' (1910) *''Grandmother's Love'' (1911): Little Girl *''Only a Squaw'' (1911): Little Mary *''The Will of Providence'' (1911): The Waif *''The Little Kiddie Mine'' (1911): Toots *''Baby’s Choice'' (1911): Baby *''Christmas Presents'' (1911): Widow Johnston's Daughter *''God Disposes'' (1912): Little Gladys Knight *''Sealed Lips'' (1912): The Smiths' Child * ''Falling Leaves'' (1912): Trixie Thompson *''Child of the Tenements'' (1912): The Martins' Child *''The Detective's Dog'' (1912): Kitty Harper *''The Sewer'' (1912): Oliver *''Fra Diavolo'' (1912): Uncredited *''The Glory of Light'' (1912): Blind Man's Daughter *''Just a Boy'' (1912): Shorty *''The Reformation of Mary'' (1912): Frances Van Brunt *''The Strike'' (1912): The Little Girl *''Treasures on the Wing'' (1912): The Browns' Daughter *''The Love of the Flag'' (1912): The Draftsman's Son *''The Coming Sunbeam'' (1913): Sunbeam *''Blood and Water'' (1913): The Granddaughter *''A Child's Intuition'' (1913): Louise Wade *'' Man's Woman'' (1917): Young Girl

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Foy, Magda 1905 births 2000 deaths 20th-century American actresses American child actresses American silent film actresses